The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-07-08
WASHINGTON LETTER
tFrom our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. ID. g., July 4th, 1887.

III bht thbbttt VI bhu ouoRbhoioh
Of the Fidelity National Bank of Gin
oinnati, has acted with a promptness
ana vigor becoming the dignity and
responsibility of the Government, and
the catastrophe is not without its les
sons aud uses, as it shows the unques-
tional superiority of our National
banking system over all others in the
world, for ours is beng rapidly recog
nized as the model for most civilized
nations. When, for instance, this
bank suspended, what man in the
United States stopped for moment to
examine whether or not he had ons of
it's billsl realizing the fact that if all
the banks of the country were TO break
in a day, the Government would be
fully responsible as long as a United
States bond is good for its face value,
and most Of them are worth great
deal more.
There is quite a ripple in the great
and good Civil Service Commission
over somewhat embittered disagree
ment about the question of paying the
expenses of the several local civil SER
vice boards while on their recent Jun.
keting visits to this city, but l hardly
think the controversy will be as i'm
portant as the proverbial tempest in a
tea pot. How sad to see that even this
august body is subject to the same in
firmities of temper as are ordinary peo-
plel
The changes in the different De
partments incident TO the beginning of
the new fiscal year were not numerous
or important. Twenty Treasury clerks
were dismissed, also seven in the
Quarter Master Generals Office and
forty employed in the Government
Printing Office-most Of the discharges
being made on account of the appro-
priation bill failing to provide for
continuance of the incumbents. The
order consolidating revenue districts
went into effect at the same time and
also the 20 per cent reduction in salar-
les of Assistant District Attorneys;
there were few minor clerical changes,
in nearly all the Departments.
Under the beneticent methods of our
honest and upright Democratic admin
istration the reduction of the public
debt continues steadily-the amount
fol the month of June being about
S15,000,000, which is a pretty good
showing
Of 81 clerks in the Quarter Master
Generals Office, who were examined
under the new Civil service rules, six
men and two women failed to attain
the minimum of rs out of a possible
100. The following fact is regarded
of much significance by the commits
sion. Before the examination, the
Quarter Master General had made
markings for efficiency and kept them
secret, for comparison with those of
the examiners and it turned out that
both markings were substantially the
same--a result highly satisfactory to
the commission, as it tends to disprove
the charge of favoritism in the rat
ings.
During the last fiscal year the Pen
sion Office issued l,S40 certificates,
which is said to be the best showing
ever made by the bureau. 1t is also said
that there is not case in the Pension
Office that has not been examined in
that time and the proper action taken
to prepare it for final settlement--a
record that is exceedingly gratifying
to the officials of that bureau.
If dynamite bomb had exploded
in the corridors of the Patent Office
the other day, there could not have
been much greater commotion among
the army of Republican clerks than
when it was made public, that, after
patient Investigation, the accounts of
Levi Bacon, protege of Zack Chand-
ler's, who died few days since, after
having been many years financial clerk
of the Patent Office-dying in the po.
sition-were short over $4,000. Who
can blame these Republican clerks for
holding a eulogistic meeting over the
dead defaulter, for they knew he held
their due bills for thousands of dollars
unlawfully advanced to them out Of
the public funds3 Many of the clerks
will not have any salary in three
months, as Secretary Lamar will deduct
therefrom their dues. The bondsmen
will have to pay the full amount for
which they are responsible, $4,000,
yet, it is thought, there will be a con-
siderable shortage after the clerks are
made to refund, as most of the sum is
in paper on Bacons outside friends.
1t appears that his accounts have been
crooked eight years The Democrats
can afford to raise great deal of sucl.
unsavory "Bacon out of Office" 'Turn
the rascals out" In the words of the
noble lamented Hendricks, "Open the
oooks." Mr.. John L. Norris, of this
city, one of Bacon's bondsmen, now
expresses his emphatic conviction, to
use the language of the great and hon
ored Tilden, that Reform is neces
sary," and says he believes that the ac,
counts of other disbursing officers of
the Government, will, if fully investi
gated, be found in as bad a condition
as those of the esteemed Republican
Bacon.
A statement prepared by the Treas
ury Department, shows that in the
month of June, there was an increase
S2,664, $40, in the circulation and 8
decrease of $3,l52,93l OF the cash in
tie Treasury. The principal increase
in circulation was in silver certificate,
and United States notes and the princi
pal decrease in the Treasury cash wa
in gold and silver certificates, United
States notes and national bank notes